Page 105 of Sweet Deception

The same way I know I don’t need to explain to him why saving these trafficked women and girls is important. It’s exactly what my mother would’ve wanted us to do. Not to mention what Nika’s been desperately after this whole time. We also wouldn’t even know about any of this without her.

My father acknowledges me with a micro nod and together, we approach Shane.

I only hope he will understand too.

After we migrate to his office and share our thoughts, Shane blinks at the both of us. He seems taken aback, then amused by my impassioned vehemence about how we have to protect any women we may or may not find at the summit.

We’ve certainly never had a discussion like this before.

To my knowledge, this is the first time we’ve ever come up against such a large-scale human trafficking operation.

I think I’m making total sense until my uncle hits me with, “You doing this for her?”

“It’s just good business.” I stand firm. “Ensuring the women come out alive also means securing witnesses. We can use their testimonies as blackmail to keep Red Hill in line.”

My father scoffs. “If they ever try to expand again, they’ll need our blessing.”

I nod. “If we do it clean and fast, we can get the girls out first, then dismantle Red Hill’s power structure brick by brick.”

Shane considers this, then smiles. “Your girl is smart.”

That irks me.

Nika’s not my girl.

Or maybe she is, but we haven’t talked about it yet?—

Damn him for bringing this up. Fuck.

I need to go talk to her.

“Okay,” Shane finally says. “We’ll ensure any girls we find get out safely. But Veronika stays here.” His expression becomes grave. “Rory found a confirmed guest list for the summit. Apparently, the Sullivan brothers invited buyers from even more crime families than we thought…which complicates things.”

“So, we’ll be walking into a room full of enemies and…future enemies, perhaps,” my father muses aloud.

Before we can discuss further, the door to Shane’s office opens, and Rory slips in. “The girls are being moved tonight. To a new location. Just saw the alert come through.”

My father gives Rory and me the same look. “Sounds like you boys have another mission to prepare for.”

Shane grants the approval, and Rory and I are out the door in seconds. “I’ll round everyone up.”

“I’ll go tell Veronika.” We part ways at the grand staircase. I take the enormous stairs three at a time, optimism crackling inside me.

Shane agreed. We’re going to save the girls, exactly as I’ve been assuring her we would. I can’t wait to see her eyes light up when she realizes she can trust me, that I’ve got her back.

But when I push her door open to deliver the news, I’m greeted by an empty room.

No water’s running in the bathroom.

My heart stops, then pounds. The window is still locked, and the hall guards saw nothing, but somehow, she’s just…gone.

Calm down, I tell myself.She probably went to find Kiara and Piro.

I call Kiara, who picks up on the second ring. “Darren?”

“Hey. Have you seen Veronika?”

“Yeah, she came by a while ago. She wanted to take Piro for a walk outside. Haven’t seen her since.”